Ilocos Sur is a province in the Ilocos Region of the Philippines.
Cities
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- 1 Vigan - this city was transformed into a commercial, religious, social, and cultural center by Spanish settlers during the 16th century. Today, this provincial capital still has well-maintained cobble-stoned streets and ancestral homes, ensuring its inclusion to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- 2 Candon - largest city in Ilocos Sur.
Other destinations
[edit]- 1 Cabugao - coastal town with a heritage church and Poro Island with its secluded white sand beahes.
- 2 Magsingal - coastal town with a heritage church, colonial watchtower and beaches.
- 3 Nagbukel - upland town on the boundary with Abra province inhabited by indigenous Tingguians and home to multiple waterfalls.
- 4 Narvacan - town with extensive beaches, a Spanish-era church and some of the best bagnet (deep-fried pork belly) in the Ilocos Region. Also the gateway to Abra province.
- 5 San Esteban - coastal beach town with a Spanish-era watchtower.
- 6 San Juan - coastal beach town known for producing handicrafts from buri, a relative of the rattan and palm plants.
- 7 Santa - town with an octagonal layout and home to picturesque views of the Abra river.
- 8 Santa Maria - home to Pinsal Falls and a UNESCO World Heritage fortress-church.
- 9 Santiago - coastal beach town with a Spanish-era watchtower.
- 10 Sinait - gateway to Ilocos Norte and popular Roman Catholic pilgrimage site.
- 11 Tagudin - gateway to Ilocos Sur and former capital of the defunct Amburayan subprovince.
Understand
[edit]Ilocos Sur was carved out from the historical Ilocos province in 1818, and had previously included parts of what is now Abra and western Mountain Province in the Luzon Cordilleras, and the northern parts of present-day La Union. The province's present boundaries were defined in 1920, following the annexation of the Amburayan River Valley in the southeast.
Ilocos Sur have a long history of revolts against Spanish rule, and the southern (Abagatan) Ilocanos have been known to revolt against the Spaniards even before the creation of their own province. From 1762 to 1763, Diego Silang launched a rebellion against the Spanish, which ended with his assassination; his wife Gabriela continued the revolt until she was also killed in battle. Sporadic revolts continued when Ilocos Sur came to become its own province, as it was used as a source of cheap labor for the Spanish authorities in Abra and Cagayan Valley.
Following independence in 1946, Ilocos Sur became infamous as a site for political violence involving warlords who happened to be related to each other. After a lull during Martial Law in the 1970s, the province has since become synonymous with the Singson family, who hold multiple political and business positions in Ilocos Sur and have spearheaded an aggressive campaign to promote tourism across the province apart from bolstering the usual sights in Vigan.
Get in
[edit]By air
[edit]Since February 2017 Vigan's domestic airport (VGN IATA, confusingly called "Mindoro Airport"), located southwest of the city, has re-opened with daily flights to/from Manila, & Basco, Batanes.
The next nearest airport is Laoag International Airport (LAO IATA), in the nearby province of Ilocos Norte. The airport caters to both international and domestic flights. The national carrier, Philippines Airlines, has four flights each week to Laoag. A bus trip from the airport to Ilocos Sur would take over an hour.
By bus
[edit]Dominion Bus Line and Partas have bus services from Manila and Baguio into Vigan via Manila North Road (Route 2). The buses from Manila take the expressways for part of the journey, and are usually standard AC to deluxe/executive class. Towns north of Vigan are served by buses going to Laoag and other parts of Ilocos Norte.
By car
[edit]Ilocos Sur is served by the Manila North Road (Route 2) from Manila. No expressways serve Ilocos Sur yet as of 2026. From Manila, the drive takes 6-8 hours, and 3-6 hours from Baguio and 5-7 hours from Angeles City.
Get around
[edit]The most common rural mode of transportation would be tricycles and the calesa or traditional horse-drawn carriages. Getting from one municipality to another would require taking a bus, UV Express (van shuttle), or jeepney.
Driving along coastal towns of Ilocos Sur is a generally straightforward affair. The same cannot be said of the towns along the Cordillera Mountains and the Amburayan River Valley, which is accessible through winding and narrow, landslide-prone highways such as the Bessang and Tirad Passes.
See
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- 1 Quirino Skyline/Tirad Pass. designated a National Shrine, this pass was the site of a battle led by a young general named Gregorio del Pilar against revolutionary forces led by hero Emilio Aguinaldo
- 2 Santa Maria Church. located in the eponymous town, this is a National Landmark used as a fortress during the Philippine Revolution and one four world heritage listed baroque churches on the Philippines.
- 3 Northern Luzon Heroes Hill National Park. located in Santa and is where a historical marker of heroine Gabriela Silang is located.
- 4 San Esteban and Sulvec Watchtowers. rotund structures used to serve as look-out points for pirates
Do
[edit]Go on a beach adventure along the province's extensive coastline and visit the various Spanish-era churches. Or experience Cordilleran culture in the Amburayan River Valley.
Eat
[edit]- Be sure to try some Vigan-style empanada, one of two varieties of empanada in the Ilocos region. It empanada is a lightly-colored fried pocket filled with ingredients such as grated papaya, mongo beans, egg and Vigan longganisa. It enjoys a rivalry with the empanada of Batac in Ilocos Norte.
Drink
[edit]The local alcohol of choice is basi, made from sugarcane juice. The National Museum in Vigan explains the drink's popularity in the region, including an 1807 revolt caused by the Spanish imposition of tax on the liquor.
Stay safe
[edit]Respect
[edit]Ilocos Sur is a bastion of the Singson political family, which has held office in the province following a long period of warlordism and political violence and whose patriarch, Luis "Chavit" Singson, is a flamboyant love-hate personality with a checquered past. Thread carefully when asking about local politics here.
Go next
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